About Project Archaeology

Discover the Past – Shape the Future

Who we are

Project Archaeology is an educational organization dedicated to teaching scientific and historical inquiry, cultural understanding, and the importance of protecting our nation’s rich cultural resources. We are a national network of archaeologists, educators, and concerned citizens working to make archaeology education accessible to students and teachers nationwide through high-quality educational materials and professional development. Project Archaeology gives students a basic understanding of how archaeology works and teaches them to respect and protect our nation’s rich cultural heritage.

Project Archaeology is Composed of Four Integral Components:

  • High-quality grade-level and regionally appropriate curricular materials.
  • Professional development for formal and informal educators.
  • Continuing professional support.
  • A national network of archaeology educators.

National Network

Project Archaeology operates through a national network of state and regional programs.  These programs offer local workshop and institutes for educators; experiences for school groups and family learners at archaeological sites, museums, and visitor centers; and continuing support for Project Archaeology teachers.

Project Archaeology Offers High-Quality Curriculum Guides

Project Archaeology Curricula

Project Archaeology: Investigating Shelter            

2009, 2012; curriculum guide for teachers and students in grades 3-5; supplemented with online regional investigations

 

Project Archaeology: Investigating Rock Art         

2018; curriculum guide for teachers and students in grades 3-5; supplemented with online regional investigations

 

Project Archaeology: Investigating Nutrition        

2015; curriculum guide for grade 6 for world history; investigation of agriculture in ancient Near East

 

Project Archaeology: Investigating a Roman Villa              

2019; curriculum guide for grades 6-12 for world history and Latin

 

Project Archaeology: Investigating Food and Land            

2019; curriculum guide for grades 4-5; will be supplemented with online regional investigations

Project Archaeology Curricula

Project Archaeology: Investigating Yellowstone  

2019; curriculum guide for grades 4-5; focuses on the archaeology and ecology of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

Project Archaeology: Investigating a Historic Mining Town            

2018; place-based curriculum guide for Garnet Ghost Town, contains classroom and onsite lessons

Project Archaeology: Investigating Fort Meade   

2014; curriculum guide for the Fort Meade Historic Site and BLM Recreation Area, contains classroom and onsite lessons

Project Archaeology: Investigating First Peoples, a Clovis Child Burial        

2014; curriculum guide for grades 6-12; science and ethics of studying human remains

 

Project Archaeology Curricula

Intrigue of the Past: A Teacher’s Activity Guide for Fourth through Seventh Grades             

Last printed in 1996; activity guide on archaeological processes and stewardship for national use

Discovering Archaeology in Colorado       

2000; culture history essays; supplements Intrigue of the Past; contains additional localized lessons

Discovering Archaeology in New Mexico

No date; cultural history essays; supplements Intrigue of the Past; contains additional localized lessons

Discovering Archaeology in Wyoming      

1997; cultural history essays, supplements Intrigue of the Past; contains additional localized lessons

Getting to Know Canyons of the Ancients National Monument

2005; guide for visitors and educators, contains activities for educators which can be conducted in the Monument or in the classroom

This is by far the best workshop I have attended in a very long time. Not only did I learn new lessons to teach, but I am so excited that I can integrate them right into reading, writing, and math.

Teacher

United States

Professional Development for Educators

Delivery of educational materials through professional development workshops, peer mentoring, and online courses ensures that the materials will be used effectively.

Continuing Professional Support

Continuing support ensures that educators will continue to use Project Archaeology effectively in the classroom and gives them innovative new ways to teach archaeology. Forms of continuing professional support employed by Project Archaeology state and national programs include:

  • New grade-level and regionally appropriate curricular materials
  • Alignment of all materials to current educational standards
  • Advanced professional development via conferences and institutes
  • Newsletters and current information on archaeology education
  • Information disseminated via Blog and Facebook

My students came away from this unit with the feeling that they had made significant advances in their ability to reason and the data and feedback that i recorded showed that they were correct.

Teacher

Hot Springs, MT

Participants Discover the Science of Archaeology Through:
  • Lesson plans that teach basic concepts and principles.
  • The expertise of professional archaeologists.
  • Discussions of the need to preserve and protect sites and artifacts.
  • Consideration of Native American and other cultural perspectives on archaeological preservation.
Project Archaeology Guidelines Serve Two Purposes
  • Guidance For Planning A New State, Local, Or Regional Project Archaeology Program
  • Guidance For Maintaining An Existing Project Archaeology Program.
  • Download Project Archaeology Guidelines (.pdf)

History of Project Archaeology

Project Archaeology is a national archaeology education program founded by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for educators and their students. Project Archaeology was developed in the early 1990s for three purposes: to develop awareness of our nation’s diverse and fragile archaeological sites, to instill a sense of personal responsibility for stewardship of these sites, and to enhance science literacy and cultural understanding through the study of archaeology. Project Archaeology is a joint program of Montana State University and the Bureau of Land Management. The program began in Utah in 1990 as a statewide project to combat the vandalism and looting of archaeological sites.

National Curriculum Guide

Project Archaeology offers diverse curricula spanning upper elementary to high school. These materials include Project Archaeology: Investigating Shelter, Project Archaeology: Investigating Nutrition, Project Archaeology: Investigating Rock Art, and various other place-based curricula.

Help Project Archaeology Save the World

Thank you for supporting our work to develop culturally relevant curricula, instilling cultural understanding, honoring past and present people, preserving archaeological sites through education. Every donation helps us connect people through our shared past.